Testimonials

Affiliate: Innoture

The Institute of Life Science at Swansea University continues to provide a valuable resource in our business operations. Innoture is an early stage life science company and, like most in this category, requires a strong business support network to deliver on its research and development needs. Through the ILS we have been able to establish strategically important R&D programs, bringing together three areas in a unique combination which gave Swansea University the edge in deciding where to base our R&D function. Notably:

Centre for Nanohealth

College of Engineering, specifically the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating

Diabetes Research Group

Help in navigating through the Universities myriad departments and personnel, with introductions and meeting rooms on site, was a real bonus to Innoture. Left solely to ourselves it would have taken a considerable amount of extra time and most likely resulted in missed opportunities. The team got to know our base technology, understand where we were heading and introduce us to the key players in the University allowing us to evolve the R&D plan into a reality. By recognising the significance these three departments could play for Innoture, all on a single site, the ILS team coordinated and engaged on our behalf to ensure these relationships were fostered correctly.

In addition, the teams’ knowledge and awareness of the various funding options and schemes has had a direct effect on what we can achieve in an expensive industry with the limited capital pressures most early stage companies are exposed to. This hub proves an invaluable resource Interconnecting business and academia which is an art in itself. All set within the inspiring environment of the University and both Institute buildings which any business would be proud to be associated with.

Calon Case Study

Work with Calon Cardio-Technology centres on the development and implementation of tests necessary for the in vitro, and ultimately in vivo, evaluation of ventricular assist devices (VADs). Infection, thromboembolism, and bleeding are significant complications associated with VAD support in patients. The development of assays to evaluate the effect of VADs on the phenotype and function of cells involved in these processes can inform device design and underpin preclinical trials. Of particular interest are changes in cellular and vascular homeostasis that bridge thrombosis and inflammation and could simultaneously underpin risk of infection and altered hemostasis. Assay development to date has focused on the use of flow cytometry and this remains the backbone of our investigations. Multi-parameter flow cytometry enables simultaneous analysis of multiple features of discrete cell types or broad analysis of multiple cell types in a heterogeneous sample such as blood. This work is supported by the TSB/MRC Biomedical Catalyst call and has already generated joint publications.

“The main benefit for Calon Cardio Technology being based in the ILS is that we have access to both office and laboratory facilities under one roof. This is a unique combination which is very difficult to find anywhere else. We also benefit from being able to collaborate with researchers based in the College of Medicine.”